When videos of Yankees hitters using funky-looking bats went viral last week, Orioles pitchers had some of the same reactions as fans did.

So what are these weirdly shaped bats, how do they work, and are they even legal? Here’s what to know about these new-styled bats you may see more of during the MLB season. Credit has been directed toward Aaron Leanhardt,

The premise of the torpedo bat—i.e., the thick part of the bat is shifted more toward the handle, where some hitters are more likely to make contact—is valid, and the promise of it seems to be real. Besides,